If this year's various international fashion weeks have told us anything, it's that 2022 is the year for gaudy glam! Autumn winter 2021-22 has some of the boldest trends we’ve seen in a long time. Usually characterised by dark hues, heavy fabrics and casual attire, this season is gearing us up to embrace extravagance from head to toe. We've scoured the runways of London, New York, Paris and Milan to find the best and most exciting trends that you can guarantee will look amazing in wedding photos!
1/ Fuchsia
Hot pink is the new black! Considering the last few years we've had, it's no wonder that designers are eager to encourage bold statements with such a rich colour. With Valentino unveiling their PINK PP Collection for Fall/Winter Ready Wear expect to see electric pink all over your Pinterest boards, Instagram feeds and Tik Tok FYPs. According to Vogue, the designer chose to show all of his pieces in a single colour “to remove distractions and concentrate the viewers’ eyes on distinguishing the differences between silhouette and detail.”
This eye-catching and slightly gaudy (In a good way) shade is the best way to stand out and break out of your comfort zone so keep it in your back pocket for lush and lavish Spring & Summer weddings and make a splash!
2/ Oversized Tailoring
Oversized suiting and tailoring was a hot trend this year, with designers elevating a more casual style. This season, LaQuan Smith and Peter Do prove that traditional workwear can indeed be chic with just the right amount of tailoring. Taking style cues from classic menswear, designers opted for artfully oversized blazers and trousers, favouring a monochromatic colour scheme over highly contrasting separates. Meanwhile, the shape was preserved with bare midriffs à la Michael Kors and corsets at Christian Siriano.
An oversized suit or coat with a more form-fitting top or dress beneath makes for a gorgeous guest outfit, embracing the more masculine silhouette and steering it in a more feminine direction with accessories, hair and make-up will ensure you look like one of the most fashionable forward guests!
3/ Clashing Colours
This may go against everything you've ever read but sometimes clashing colours just works so well! Fuchsia may be the colour of next season, but when it comes to colour pairings they don't come much cooler than red and pink. The cliché clash we were all advised to avoid before we'd even hit our teenage years, this rebellious statement adds a certain edge. With Carolina Herrera, Giambattista Valli, Toga, Ahluwalia & Huishan Zhang taking on the task of meshing red and pink into incredible garments, we've never been so happy to see a colour combination in our lives!
Let's be honest, there's no way you're going to accidentally match the bridal party if you're opting for bright clashing colours so have fun with it!
4/ Opera Gloves
Opera gloves are back in style! These glamorous accessories go in and out of style every few years but the statement piece has been a staple on the runway and red carpet for 2022 with everybody from Sydney Sweeney to Lady Gaga donning gloves. At London Fashion Week Richard Quinn, Simone Rocha and the emerging label Poster Girl presented a vast range of gloves fit for any vibe. The silhouette continued its domination in Milan, too, with Bella Hadid modelling a black silk glove for Moschino and a sage knitted pair for Fendi.
For 2022/23 weddings embrace the old Hollywood drama with a sleek pair of silk/velvet/latex opera gloves with an equally slinky gown and embrace your inner Elizabeth Taylor.
5/ Babydolls
The babydoll silhouette has really hit fashion like a truck in the last year, with brands like Selkie going viral on TikTok and Instagram for the fun and feminine shape it's no wonder the fashion world has been listening! Loosely defined as a garment with an empire waist and a skirt ending above the knee, The babydoll dress has a storied history, and one somehow always rooted in gender politics. From its appearance at the turn of the 20th century and later revival by Balenciaga couture, through to Courtney Love's kinderwhore styling and Meadham Kirchhoff's homage to her, it has designated everything from the formal to the salacious, the irreverent to the chic. But, whether employed as 40s nightwear or in 90s punk performance, the babydoll has always been somehow synonymous with female liberation, whether emancipation from corsetry or the strictures of hemline etiquette.
A stark contrast to the fashion standard of form-fitting, elongating and slimming styles, some may consider a short, poofy dress "Not wedding appropriate" but we tend to disagree! We're very excited to see this adorable dress styled for Spring & Summer events (Maybe even Autumn & Winter with the right layering!).
- Gráinne